The Barefoot Kitchen Witch

Scrutiny

 

The kittens loooooove to watch the wildlife.  Thing is, they keep hopping up onto the kitchen counter so they can see the birds and squirrels we feed, and they're really not supposed to be on there.

But when a photo op such as this presents itself, I let the rules slide a bit.

 

That's Scratchy on the left, Softie on the right, in case you were wondering about the cats.

As far as the rodent goes, it's either Squirly or Squirlio, according to my kids.  Doesn't matter if there are more than two squirrels around - those are their names.

You know, it's kind of pleasant to be so easily entertained. 

If Only They'd Perch on My Fingers, I'd Be Just Like a Disney Princess

 

This guy. 

If I don't put peanuts and birdseed out on time, he's sitting out on one of the platforms, staring at me through the kitchen window.  Waiting.  He doesn't tap his foot, but he seems like he might at any moment.

 

We didn't have to go through that this morning, though.  I beat him to it.

 

I know they're greedy rodents.  I know they cause havoc and destruction.

But isn't he cute?  Just a little?

 

 

 

 

 

"What?  Why are you looking at me like that?"

 

"No, really.  Tell me."

 

"Fine.  If you're going to be like that, I'm outta here."

And then Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal arrived. 

First the Mrs.

 

She's a bit timid, but she's also hungry.

 

So she decided to stay, at least for a moment.

 

 

She isn't sure what to make of me. 

 

"What is she doing in there with that black and silver thing stuck to her face?"

 

"And why is she moving closer?  Does she think I can't tell?"

 

She still isn't sure about eating.  I try not to move too much more.

 

 

 

 

She doesn't stay.

 

And then Mr. Cardinal arrived.

 

He sees me, too.  But he's not too bothered about it.

 

He's here for the buffet.

 

 

 

 

 

"Thanks for the seeds, lady."

 

And then he flew away as well.

But they'll be back.

Re: The Recent Spate of Squirrel Larceny in My Yard

For those of you who may have read this recent post and were both horrified and outraged at the crime committed outside my home whilst I was earnestly and virtuously typing about rice and vegetables and all...

I present to you - the victim.

If I remember correctly, she is Queen of the Night (I ordered her from a catalog several years ago).

Once stately and elegant, now, thanks to a marauding rodent, she is bruised and battered...

...and broken off of her rhizome.  She now resides in a cobalt blue vase (appropriately regal in color) filled with nourishing and restorative aitch-two-oh.

In addition, one of the buds on the stalk broke off, right at the neck, so I've got a little orphan bud in a small glass of water on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. 

Here's the Queen in her hospital vase, gazing out at the garden that was once her home.

Alas.

But - the nice thing about irises is that they do well (I mean, as well as any cut flower can do) in water.  Last year I would take stalks of them in to work and they would bloom all week at my desk - the buds would slowly open, just like they would have in the garden.  I didn't really like cutting them, but since I was at work more during daylight hours than I was at home, I figured it was the only way I'd really get to enjoy them. 

And they smelled wonderful, most of them.  People would stop at my desk just to look and inhale and admire them. 

Anyway.  That is the follow up to yesterday's crime story.

Many thanks to Jen for inadvertantly providing me with a good laugh and a title for this post.

Squirrel larceny. Hahahaha! 

Perfect.

 

Wildlife

A Little Snow This Morning

 

Pictures of Squirly. Or Was it Squirlio?

Recently we started putting out peanuts in the shell for the local squirrels.  Because it keeps them busy and allows the other birds to eat the bird SEED we also put out, and because my kids love squirrels and they're kind of entertaining.  The squirrels.  Well, so are my kids.  At times. 

But anyway, a few days ago I had put out some stale bread on a little shelf on top of the rail to our deck, which is visible through the windows above the kitchen sink (in case you were interested) and then I put the zoom lens on my camera and waited for the squirrel.  Or squirrels.  In this case, there was one.  I don't know his name, but I'm sure my son could tell you. 

Anyway, these are a few of the shots.  Keep in mind I'm shooting through a window and a screen, so that's why some of the pictures have a sort of soft focus effect going on.

Caring For Our Wild Friends

We don't just feed people here....